Hey, Folks!
I honestly don’t have much to say this week except for letting you know that Brian and I are steaming ahead on the Jersey collection. Brian has had to pause his sorting of the books in order to cull the back issue boxes of overstock and “dead” stock to make room for the sudden influx of new back issue material. This basically involves him going through all of the back issue boxes and pulling stuff that we have multiple copies of or items that have been sitting and languishing in the back issue boxes for a while now. Then he has to strip them of their bags and decide whether they go into the backstock boxes in the back room or whether they simply get dumped in the Dollar Boxes. Spoiler Alert…they are mostly going into the Dollar Boxes. Of course, this means you, Beloved Customers, will have another stream of new dollar comics to peruse during your visit to the store. Also, I am going to continue the practice of leaving new back issue stock displayed in the short boxes on the counter for at least a week before they get filed in the back issue boxes. I know that many of you appreciate the gesture and I will continue to do it as long as I have the room. Please make sure you stayed tuned in to our Facebook page where I will continue to display new back issues/key issues that I believe you will be particularly interested in!
I’ve also been meaning to discuss the recent and not so recent changes to our distributor’s business models. As of today, Lunar Distribution will be handling D.C. Comics, Ahoy, Asylum, AWA Studios, Black Mask Studios, Clover Press, newcomer DSTLRY, Mad Cave, Oni Press, Papercutz, Scout Comics, Silver Sprocket, Source Point Press, Sumerian, Vault Comics, and now, Image Comics. Penguin Random House will be distributing Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW Comics. Diamond Distributors will be handling everyone else including Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Zenescope, Titan Comics, Ablaze, and any other small press publishers. There have been a few hiccups behind the scenes here at Monarch as I work to address the changes in the marketplace, but it looks like I’m getting a pretty good handle it. Please forgive us if any more mistakes occur in the next couple of months, but I am doing y best to stay on top of the situation.
I’ve spoken to many of you lately about how I have been attempting to achieve a better life/work balance this year, but after taking Friday & Saturday off for a couple of weeks in a row, I realize that I have to step up my work in the store, especially considering the amount of new stock we have to deal with so don’t be surprised if you start seeing me hanging around like a bad smell this summer…lol. In fact, I do believe I will be in and out of the store this Friday and Saturday so I hope to see many of you then!
Have a great week!
Eddie